2011 CIHR-CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) host an annual competition to celebrate top achievements in health research in Canada. Among the 2011 competition applicants, six winners were selected by an international review committee. Two winners with the highest rankings received a special mention.

Recipients of the 2011 CIHR-CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards:

  • Dr. Daniel Drucker for his innovative work in improving the lives of patients with type 2 diabetes (Toronto, Ontario) – Special mention
  • Dr. Gideon Koren and colleagues for revolutionizing the area of medication safety in pregnancy (Toronto, Ontario) – Special mention
  • Dr. Marvin Fritzler for identifying novel autoantigens that resulted in new diagnostic testing and biomarkers for autoimmune diseases (Calgary, Alberta)
  • Dr. Terry Klassen and colleagues for improving health outcomes of acutely ill and injured children visiting pediatric emergency departments (across Canada)
  • Drs. Anthony Tang and George Wells for helping reduce cardiac mortality rates with resynchronization therapy and implantable defibrillators in heart failure (Ottawa, Ontario)
  • Dr. Michael Hill and colleagues for the Calgary Stroke Program (Calgary, Alberta) that has changed the face of stroke care by thoroughly integrating research and clinical care

Launched in 2008, the awards highlight achievements that have "improved our understanding of health and human diseases; significantly improved the health of Canadians (and others) and/or provided more effective products and health services; and had significant impact within the field (e.g. important advancement in knowledge or a major improvement in health benefit, diagnosis or improved function that enhances healthcare delivery)." Four categories of achievement are eligible for the award: biomedical, clinical, health services, and social, cultural, environmental and population health.

A fourth round of the CIHR-CMAJ Top Achievements in Health Research Awards will be launched in summer 2012, with an expected deadline for applications in September 2012. CIHR and CMAJ welcome applications from individuals or teams working as health researchers, health professionals, policy makers, or administrators.

Ian Graham, PhD
Vice-President, Knowledge Translation and Public Outreach Portfolio

Supplemental content (right column)